Newzoo: Global games market made over $200bn in 2025
The global video games market generated $201.6 billion in revenue during 2025, a 9.1% increase year-on-year and a historic milestone—the first time the industry has surpassed $200 billion in annual revenue globally.
Mobile gaming dominated the market, accounting for 56% of revenue or $113.3 billion. This growth was supported by direct-to-consumer spending, China’s expanding mini-games ecosystem, and significant revenue contributions from Tencent. Despite exceeding prior industry estimates, the mobile market experienced declining downloads year-over-year, indicating that growth was driven primarily by increased monetization of existing players rather than audience expansion.
According to research firm Newzoo, these figures underscore the gaming market’s robust economic performance and mobile’s critical role as the industry’s revenue engine. The data reveals a market increasingly focused on monetization optimization and player retention in established markets, particularly in China. The divergence between revenue growth and declining downloads illustrates the shift toward extracting higher value per player rather than expanding user bases.